title: Effect of smoking on oral pigmentation and its relationship with periodontal status.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To assess the effect of smoking on lip and gingival pigmentation and also to assess the relationship of pigmentation with periodontal parameters.
  
  
  METHODS
  109 smokers and an equal number of control subjects who were nonsmokers in the age range of 35 - 44 years comprised the study sample. All the participants were assessed for pigmentation on lip and gingiva and a total periodontal status examination was done with measurements on gingival bleeding, probing depth and loss of attachment at six points in each tooth.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Melanin pigmentation on lips and gingiva was observed in all the smokers except for one who did not exhibit gingival pigmentation. Significantly greater number of smokers exhibited pigmentation than nonsmokers. Gingival bleeding on probing, probing depth and loss of attachment differed significantly in relation to gingival and lip pigmentation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oral pigmentation was widespread and more commonly observed in smokers than nonsmokers and there was a relationship between pigmentation and periodontal deterioration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Maxillofacial Surgery and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Dentistry, Jazan University, Jazan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Jyothi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tadakamadla
authors.forename: Santhosh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Anand
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nagori
authors.forename: Harish
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tibdewal
authors.forename: Prabu
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Duraiswamy
authors.forename: Suhas
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kulkarni
keywords: Oral mucosa; periodontium; pigmentation; smoking